Record-breaking June temperatures heighten safety issues

Published 3:55 pm, Saturday, July 2, 2011

Maddox De La Pena, 3, finds relief from the warm temperatures as enjoys the afternoon playing with his cousins on the "Slip N' Slide." Cindeka Nealy/Reporter-Telegram

Maddox De La Pena, 3, finds relief from the warm temperatures as enjoys the afternoon playing with his cousins on the "Slip N' Slide." Cindeka Nealy/Reporter-Telegram

Photo: Cindeka Nealy

Record-breaking June temperatures heighten safety issues

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Record-breaking is often a cause for celebration. Such has not been the case for Midland residents, who endured the city’s hottest month on the record books in June.

The average temperature for June was 88 degrees, up from the previous record of 87.2 degrees set in August 1964. Records for the National Weather Service in Midland/Odessa date back to 1930. Twenty-one days reached to or above 100 degrees in June, with nine record-breaking highs set. The second hottest June on record was recorded in 1990 at 86.5 degrees. In Texas, the last week of June saw more than 150 reports of record hot high temperatures across the state.

Heat was the primary cause of national weather-related fatalities in 2010, and the second behind hurricanes from 2001-2010, according to the National Weather Service.

Midland Memorial Hospital has “definitely seen an increase” in emergency room patients because of heat-related illnesses, said public relations assistant Amanda Byrom. Most of the cases have been because of dehydration, especially among outdoor workers like those in the oilfield or construction. The city’s Solid Waste department began its employees’ days an hour earlier starting in June to avoid the scorching heat.

Of the 12 children who have died this year in the U.S. because of being left in a vehicle, four have been from Texas, according to the Texas Task Force of Safe Kids USA. Midland officials responded to about 20 calls related to children left in vehicles in June, said Midland Police Department Patrol Sgt. Craig Matthews, a child safety technician. One of those calls came Tuesday, when a 1- and 3-year-old accidentally were locked in a vehicle on Andrews Highway before they were safely released.

“The temperature can raise 19 degrees in the first 10 minutes you leave a child in the car,” Matthews said. “Hyperthermia can set in very quickly, and it’s usually caused by heat stroke.”

The parents of children left in cars often have a lot on their minds or recently have changed routines, Matthews added, causing them to bypass the day care and enter their workplace with the child asleep in the backseat. Matthews suggested that after a change in routine, parents should set an alarm to go off five minutes after they’re supposed to be at work to double check they’ve dropped off their child. They also should have a plan to be called immediately by their day care if their child is late.

Ensuring that doors are locked while vehicles are not in use is equally important, Matthew said. Sometimes children see vehicles as playgrounds and accidentally lock themselves inside.

Though officials haven’t responded to many calls about pets being trapped in cars, Matthews warned that leaving the windows cracked might not be sufficient in extreme heat if the car isn’t running.

Seniors ages 65 and older are at great risk for heat-related illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Community and Senior Services of Midland hosted a fan and air conditioning drive at Lowe’s in the middle of June and received generous donations from the community, said executive director Kelly Ives. About 136 fans and 40 air conditioning window units were donated during the drive. The organization already has installed 14 window units and given out 150 fans, which included some they already had. Money raised from the drive will help the group to continue helping those in need.

“It was our most successful drive,” Ives said. “I think with the heat this year, everybody is aware how hot it’s been.”

Ives urged seniors who turn off their air conditioning to save on utility costs and to spend time with friends or at senior centers that do have air conditioning.

Along with the heat, last month marked the only June on record when Midland did not receive any precipitation. More than 97 percent of Texas is currently under drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Kimberly Cornelsen, Midland City Parks and Recreation assistant manager, said the city’s pools have been busy for the past month with patrons looking for relief from the hot weather.

“Our attendance at the pools has been up this year tremendously,” she said. Part of the reason is that the pools were periodically closed last year because of rain and lower temperatures. Combined attendance at the Doug Russell Pool and Washington Park Aquatic Center this June was estimated at more than 21,300, while about 19,300 visits were made to the pools in June 2010.

The RockHounds have seen an increase in attendance of an average of 425 people per game this season over last year’s season, though the Sockers still are struggling to bring in large crowds, said the minor league teams’ assistant general manager, Jeff VonHolle. On particularly hot or crowded days, management has an extra medical professional at the stadium and provides additional points of sale for drinks.

Though Putt-Putt Fun Center owner Jessica Miles said she’d welcome rain in the midst of Midland’s drought and fires, the precipitation last summer was a bigger hurdle to her business than this year’s heat. She said that most customers arrive in the mornings and evenings, but hasn’t seen much of a drop in business.

“Surprisingly, we still get people out with the heat,” she said. “Last year we had all the rain, but the rain would be nice for all the fires we’ve been having.”

La Niña, which is the result of cool water temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific Ocean, is mostly to blame for the hot, dry weather, said National Weather Service meteorologist Alec Lyster. Though Midland should experience some precipitation as sea surface temperatures neutralize sometime this summer, the current drought outlook doesn’t look promising in the near future.

“The drought is going to persist or intensify from Midland across the central part of the state,” Lyster said.

Sara Higgins can be reached at shiggins@mrt.com.

Top monthly temperatures

1930-2011

1. June 2011 88.0

2. August 1964 87.2

3. July 1964 86.9

3. July 1998 86.9

5. July 2001 86.7

6. June 1990 86.5

7. June 1998 85.7

8. August 1952 85.6

9. June 1953 85.5

10. July 2000 85.4

10. August 1977 85.4

Hottest Junes

1930-2011

1. 2011 88.0

2. 1990 86.5

3. 1998 85.7

4. 1953 85.5

5. 1994 84.5

6. 2008 84.4

7. 2010 84.1

8. 2001 83.8

9. 1964 83.5

10. 1948 83.2

Note: Average monthly temperature is 79.6

Driest Junes on record

1930-2011

1. 2011 0.00

2. 2001 0.01

2. 1990 0.01

4. 1951 0.05

5. 1953 0.06

Other hot and dry facts

Days at or over 100 (Through Tuesday): 21

Days at or over 105: 11

Days at or over 110: 2

Daily Record highs set: 9

Days among the all-time top 10 temperatures (including ties): 3

The months of June and April in 2011 were the hottest for those respective months on record.

How dry has it been

Weather Facts

Days since last significant rain (more than 0.1 of an inch): 275 (Sept. 26, 2010-June 28 or more than 9 months)

Rain by month from October..

October: Trace

November 0.00

December 0.02

January: 0.02

February: 0.05

March 0.04

April 0.00

May 0.05

June 0.00

Days of measurable rain (0.18 inches): 5

Note: This has been the driest stretch from September through June in Midland’s history.

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Helpful tips to prevent heat exhaustion and heat stroke:

- Drink cool, non-alcoholic, non-caffeinated beverages.

- Drink water regularly throughout the day, even if you don’t feel thirsty.

- Be aware that some medications can make you more vulnerable to heat exhaustion.

- Rest often.

- Take a cool shower, bath, or sponge bath.

- If possible, seek an air-conditioned environment. If you don't have air conditioning, consider visiting an air-conditioned shopping mall or public library to cool off.

- Wear lightweight clothing.

- If possible, remain indoors during the hottest parts of the day.

- Do not engage in strenuous activities.

Common signs of heat stroke:

- An extremely high body temperature (above 103°F)

- Red, hot, and dry skin (no sweating)

- Rapid, strong pulse

- Throbbing headache

- Dizziness

- Nausea

(Source: Centers for Disease Control)

“Keep in mind that if you see any signs of severe heat stress, you may be dealing with a life-threatening emergency. Have someone call for immediate medical assistance while you begin cooling the affected person,” according to the Centers for Disease Control.

If you’re ever in doubt, call 68 NURSE and a trained medical professional at Midland Memorial Hospital can help answer your questions.